Watch: BCRS Head Admits Scheme A ‘Nightmare’ For Restaurants Due To Sudden Culture Change
Alan Meilak, the CEO of the BCRS beverage container deposit scheme, frankly admitted that the initiative is a “nightmare” for restaurants and catering establishments, who have had to change their culture regarding waste collection.
Meilak recently took part in a debate moderated by Lovin Malta’s Tim Diacono at a conference organised by the Association of Catering Establishments (ACE).
ACE has warned that, since the BCRS scheme was introduced, several restaurants have had to use up significant parts of their food storage space to stack hundreds of bottles to be collected for the scheme. This is over and above the other types of waste, including recyclables and organic, that they must store.
Meilak, who has a background in the catering and hospitality industry, said he understands the new waste rules are a “nightmare” to deal with.
“It’s a nightmare because it’s a culture change. We can no longer just throw all our containers in one bag and leave it outside the premises for someone else to take care of. We need to change our mentality and our approach.”
Meilak said that while the scheme can certainly be improved through discussion with stakeholders, it is “here to stay” as it is crucial for Malta to meet its EU-imposed waste targets.
“By 2029, the EU is mandating that all member states must prove they can collect at least 90% of their beverage containers. Does it need to be through a DRS (Deposit and Return System)? If by 2026, countries can prove they are collecting 80% of their bottles and have a plan to reach 90%, then they will not need a DRS but the likelihood is that the only way to achieve 90% is to have a DRS.”
How can the BCRS scheme be improved?